Rail-tie plater



July 20,1926.

R. A. BRADLEY v RAIL TIE PLATER Filed Oct. 8' 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR R -A.Bradle5 ATTORNEYS R. A. BRADLEY RAIL TIE PLATER Filed Oct. 8' 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 g l I 7 21/3 I 74,-

INVENTOR Bradley, ('5 W ATTORNEYS July 20 1926.

R. A. BRADLEY RAIL TIE PLATER Filed Oct. 8, 25 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS Jid 20 1926.

I I R. A. BRADLEY RAIL TIE PLATER F'iled: Oct. a, 1925 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR v RA.BradZ8 BY I 3% ATTORNEYS Patented July 2%, 1926.

nurrsn srrss eate -me ROBERT AULDOM BRADLEY, or ivrnfnnrrron, ONTARIO, CANAD BAIL-TIE PLATER.

Application filed October 8, 1925. Serial No. 61,347".

spike (due to undulation caused by passing trainor in any other way) into a lateral pull instead of the usual vertical pull. In other words the forces tending to pull the tie plate away from the tie are exerted transversely of the spikes and are resisted by the solid cross section of spike and tie and are not applied to the spike in such a way as to tend to pull the spike from the tie. V

' A further object is to combine with the tie plate an anti-creep device or wedge in a simple and practical yet highly effective manner. v

Another object is to providea machine which applies the tie plates to the ties before the ties are placed under the r-ails, the machine not only effecting proper positioning of the tie plates on the ties, but also facilit'ating handling of the ties.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan'view of a blank from which the tie plates are formed;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a tie plate;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the tie plates associated with the rails and ties;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the anti creep wedge employed;

Figure 5 is a similar view of the special type spike;

Figure 6 is a View partly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation showing the machine used to apply the tie platsto the ties;

1 Figure 6 is a detail view showing the fiction of the roller provided 0 th l Figure 7 is a view thereof partly in end elevatlon and partly 1n transverse section;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view of n the base;

Figure 9 is a view thereof in longitudinal vertical section,

Figure 10 is a sectional view on line 1()1O of Fig. 9;

Figures 11 and 12-are detail perspective views of parts of the tie plate applying de vice, and

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the controls.

Referring to the drawings and more especially to Figure 1 the numeral 1 designates a blank from which the tie plates designated generally at 2 are formed, the

plates 2 being cut from the blank along the lines shown,

Each tie plate 2 the bottom of which ribs 4: are formed.

hasa body portion 3 on The ribs 4 are adapted to be embedded in the tie to prevent transverse movement of the plate on the tie. ()n top of the body portion a curved flange 5 is formed and is adapted to engage over one edge of the rail base.

Spike receiving openings 6 are also formed in the body portion. Either ordinary spikes or spikes 7 having grooved heads 8 maybe employed and as shown in Fig. 3, the spikes driven through the openings 6 are engaged with the edge of the rail base opposite the edge thereof engaged by the flange 5. The grooved heads 8 facilitate removal of the spikes. The openings 6 may be provided at different distances from the flange 5 to adapt the plate for use with rails having bases of different width. At diagonally opposite corners of the body portion wings 10 are integrally formed with the plate and are The machine employed for applying the plates to the ties includes a hollow base designated generally at 21 and a frame designated generalyat 22 and overlying the base.

A pair of hoppers or stacks 23 are provided on the frame, each stack containing a plurality'of' tie plates 2 stacked or piled one on the other. The stacks 23 have a slotted bottom 24 and a discharge opening 25 in one side just above the bottom. The tops of the stacks are open to permit the tie plates to be placed therein.

A tie plate applying device designated generally at 26 is provided adjacent each stack 23. Each tie plate applying device includes a vertical power cylinder 27 in which a piston 28 is operatively fitted. The piston-2S is shifted in said cylinder by compressed air, steam or any fluid under pressure, the fluid pressure being supplied to and exhausted from the opposite ends of the cylinder by means of pipes 29 under the regulation of a: control means to be hereinafter more fully described. The piston 28 has a piston rod 30 connected thereto and on the lower endiof the rod 30 a head designated generally at 31 is mounted. The head 31 consists of twosections, a carrier or mounting section 32 and a plate bl0ck33. The section 32 has lateral extensions 3% slidably fitted in vertical guides 35 to constrain the head to vertical movement. The block 33 is held to the carrier 32 by virtue of the engagement of its flanges 36 with ways 37 formed in the carrier and by means of a set screw 38. Inclined centering lugs 39 are provided on the block 33 and coact with the flanges 5 of-the tie plates 2 to properly center the tie plates as they are delivered to the block 33. A spring-projected latch pin-40 is also provided on the block 33 and is cooperable with one of the spike receiving openings 6 to prevent lateral displace ment of the tie plate. The block 33 is made 'of iron or other magnetic material and in this block electromagnetic means -12 is provided and is supplied with current through wires 43 electrically connected to the windings of the coils of the eleetro-magnetic means and to contact shoes 4:1 carried by the extensions 34 and having sliding electrical contact with conductor rails 45 inounted on the guides 35. Electric current is supplied to the rails 45 from any convenient source of current.

' Means is provided adjacent each stack and its associated tie plate applying device for delivering the tie plates one by one from,

the stack to the head of the tie plate applvmg device and comprises a power cylinder having apiston 51 operating thereina it pistoirrod 52 connects with-the piston and has an extension 53 providing an ejector bar. On the bar 53 a beveled lug 5 1 is integrally formed and slides back and forth in the slot of the bottom of the stack, the lug engaging one edge of the lowermost tie plate in the stack on its outer stroke :1) as to carry such lowermost tie plate from the stack to the head 3 Fluid preseenre is supplied to the opposite ends of the power cylinder through pipes 50 under the action of a control to be hereinafter more fully described. A roller it" is rotatably mounted in the lug 5t and is engageahle with the next lowermost plate of the stack to maintain the same and the plates'abovc elevated while the lowermost plate is being ejected.

To facilitate the placing of the tie on the base of the machine, the entire machine inclined or tilted with respect to the horizontal and is firmly secured and supported in such position. At the high end of the machine a roller 51 is provided and at the lower end thereof a vertically reciprocable tie stop 52 is arranged, the tie stop 5; being carried by a piston rod 53 connected to a piston 54 fitted in a power cylinder Fluid under pressure is supplied to the opposite ends of the cylinder by means of pipes 56, the flow of fluid through the pipes being governed by a control to be hereinafter more fully described.

In order that the tie may be freely and easily rolled into position on the base and taken therefrom and yet held in position while the plates are being applied. a roller carrying frame 57 is mounted in the hollow base land has bearing 58 in which rollers 59 are rotatably mounted.

Means is provided for raising and lowering the frame and comprises four vertical rack bars 60 operating in guides til and secured to the sides of the frame adjacent the ends thereof. The racks 60 mesh with twin gears (32 fixed on shafts (33 journaled in bearings (34. The twin gears mesh with each other and serve to constrain the shafts 63 to corresponding movement. One of the racks (30 is integrally formed with or suitably connected to a piston rod (35 extending from a piston 66 operatively fitted in a cylinder 67 to which fluid pressure is supplied by pipes (38 under the action of a control to be later described.

lVhen the frame 57 is raised or elevated the rollers 59 project above the base, the top of the base having transverse slots 70 permitting the raising and lowering of the rollers.

Means is provided for properly positioning the tie laterally with respect to the tie, plate applying devices and comprises two sets or pairs of tie positioning dogs 71. Each dog 71 has a rack bar 72.

Each pair of dogs 71 are operated independently but the members of each pair of dogs are constrained to partake of corresponding movement by means of two shafts 73 and 74 on which meshing twin gears 7 3 and 74* are fixedto cause the shafts 73 and 74 to rotate together. On the shaft 73 a gear 75 is fixedandmeshes with one of the witha piston 81 fitted a cylinder 82 supplied with fluid pressure by pipes 83 under the regulation of a control to be presently described.

As illustrated in Fig. 13, the various instrumentalities of the machine are governed from a single control board designated at 100 and on which controlling valves designated at 101, 102, 103,104 and 105 and a switch106 are arranged. Valve 101 controls the flow of fluid pressure through the pipe 68; valve 102 controls theflow of fluid pressure through the pipes 56; the valve 103 controls the flowof fluid. pressure through the pipes 83 leading to the cylinders 82; the valve 104 controls the flow of fluid pressure through the pipes leading to the cylinders 50; and the valve 105 controls the flow of fluid pressure to the pipes 29. The switch 106 regulates the flow of electricity through the coils of the'electro-magnets 42. The valves 101 to 105 inclusive have operating handles designated at 101, 102 103 104 and 105 respectively, fixed to their axes and serving as a convenient means whereby the valves may be adjusted. Each handle is provided with a rod 108, the rods beingpivoted to the. handles "and being. slidable through guides 109 mounted on the control panel. The free ends of the rods 108 are 1 adapted to be received in notches 110 provided in an interlock or longitudinally shiftable bar .111. The interlock 111 is constrained to proper movements by a guide 112 and is controlled manually. Adjacent one end the interlock is pivotally connected to the handle 105* of the valve 105. The valves may be of any suitable type and may be supplied with either compressed air or steam in any suitable manner.

Vith this arrangement when a pair of plates are'to be applied to a tie the handle 102 is pulled to the left as shown in Fig. 13 to disengage its rod 108 from the interlock and to cause Yfluid under pressure to fiow through the pipes 56 so as to elevate the piston in the cylinder and consequently elevate the stop 52". The dogsv 71 are then spread by swinging the handle 103" to the right and the rollers 59 are elevated by swinging the handle 101 to the right in which position the handle 101 is engaged with the interlock. The tie is then rolled over the roller 5'l rand the rollers 59, the inclination of the machine greatly facilitating this operation. The rollers 59 are lowered by swinging the handle 101* to the left in which position the handle 101 is disengaged from the interlock. The inward movement of the tie into the machine is limited by the engagement of its inner end with the stop 52 The tie is next centered and properly positioned by swinging the handle 103 to the left as viewed in Fig. 13 which causes the dogs to be moved toward each other to shift the tie as may be necessary and to hold the tie in proper position. As a result of this swinging of'the handle 103 the rod 108 connected thereto is disengaged from the interlock. The next phase of the operation resides in the transferring of the tie plates from the stacks to the tie applying devices and this is accomplished by first swinging the handle 10 1 to the right to bring the tie plates under the heads 32, then turning on the electric current by shifting the switch 106 and finally withdrawing the ejector bars from under the heads 32 by swinging the handles 104E to the left as viewed in Fig. 13. The rods 108 of all of the handles of the valves are now disengaged from the interlock since the machine is ready to have the tie applying devices'to descend and apply the tie plates to the ties. The ties may have been previously prepared to receive the ribs 4 of the tie plates or the machine may be constructed to force the tie plates against the ties with sufficient force to cause these ribs to become embedded in the tie. The tie applying de vices are operated by shifting the valve handle 105 and this may be easily carried out since the interlock 111 is no longer held by any of the bars 108. .VVhile thetie plates are held against the ties the wings are ham-- mered down and the spikes are driven. To remove a tie after the application of the tie plates thereto, the dogs'are spreadfollo'wing the elevation of the tie applying devices, the rollers are raised and the tie withdrawn.

I claim:

1. A machine for applying tie' plates to ties comprising a base, a frame over the base, a pair of tie plate stacks, mounted on the frame, a tie plate applying device adjacent each stack, means adjacent each stack for delivering the tie plates one by one to the adjacent tie plate applying device, and

means for properly positioning the ties on the base and under the tie plate applying devices.

2. A machine for applying tie plates to ties comprising a tie plate stack, a tie plate applying device, means for delivering the.

tie plates from the stack to the tie plate applying device, and means for properly positioning the ties relative to the tie ap plying device. 1

3. A machine for applying tie plates to ties comprising a tie plate stack, a tie plate applying device having an electromagnetic head and means for shifting the same, means for delivering the tie plate from the stack to the head, and means for properly positioning the ties relative to the applying device.

4-. A machine for applying tie plates to ties comprising a tie plate stack, a tie plate applying device having an electromagnetic head and means for shifting the same, means for centering the tie plates relative to the head, means for delivering the tie plate from the stack to the head, and means for properly positioning the ties relative to the apply ing device.

5. A machine for applying tie plates to ties comprising a tie plate stack, a tie plate applying device having an electromagnetic head and means for shiftingthe same, means for centering the tie plates relative to the head, a spring projected latch on the head engageable with the tie plate, means for delivering the tie plate from the stack to the head, and means for properly positioning the-ties relative to the applying device.

(5. A machine for applying tie plates to ties comprising a tie plate stack, a tie plate applying device having an electromagnetic head and means for shifting the same, a spring projected latch on the head engageable with the tie plate,tmeans for delivering the tie plate from the stack to the head, and means for properly positioning the ties relative to the applying device.

7. A machine for applying tie plates to ties comprising a tie plate stack, a tie plate applying device, means for delivering the tie plates from the stack to the tie plate applying device, including a reciprocable bar having a beveled lug engageable with the lowermost plate in the stack, and means for properly positioning the ties relative to the tie applying device.

8. A machine for applying tie plates to ties comprising a tie plate stack, a tie plate applying device, means for delivering the tie plates from the stack to the tie plate applying device, including a reciprocable bar having means engageable with the lowermost plate and also including a roller engageable with the next lowermost plate to hold the same and the plates above elevated While the lowermost plate is being ejected, and means for properly positioning the ties relative to the tie applying device.

9. A machine for applying tie plates to ties comprising a tie plate stack, a tie plate applying device, means for delivering the tie plates from the stack to the tie plate applying device, and means for properly positioning the ties relative to the tie applying device including a plurality of pairs of tie engaging dogs, means for constraining the dogs to corresponding movement, and means for movingthe dogs.

10. A machine for applying tie plates to ties comprising a tie plate stack, a tie plate applying device, means for delivering the tie plates from the stack to the tie plate applying device, and means for properly positioning the ties relative to the tie applying device including a plurality of pairs of tie engaging dogs, each dog having a rack bar connected thereto, gears meshing with the rack bars, shafts on which the gears are fixed, twin gears constraining the shafts to corresponding movement and means for rotating one shaft.

11. A machine for applying tie plates to ties comprising a base, a frame over the base, a pair of tie plate stacks, mounted on the frame, a tie plate applying device adjacent each stack, means adjacent each stack for delivering the tie plates one by one to the adjacent tie plate applying device, means for properly positioning the ties on the base and under the tie plate applying devices, said base being inclined relative to the horizontal, rollers to facilitate movement of the ties on the base and a shiftable stop to limit the movement of the ties in one direction.

12. A machine for applying tie plates to ties comprising a base, a frame over the base, a pair of tie plate stacks, mounted on the frame, a tie plate applying device adjacent each stack, means adjacent each stack for delivering the tie plates one by one to the adjacent tie plate applying device, means for properly positioning the ties on the base and under the tie plate applying devices, a roller carrying frame mounted in the base, said base having slots through which the rollers may be raised and means for raising and lowering said roller carrying frame.

13. A machine for applying tie plates to ties comprising a base, a frame over the base, a pair of tie plate stacks, mounted on the frame, a tie plate applying device adjacent each stack, means adjacent each stack for delivering, the tie plates one by one to the adjacent tie plate applying device, means for properly positioning the ties on the base and under the tie plate applying devices, a roller carrying frame mounted in the base, said base having slots through which the rollers may be raised and means for raising and lowering said roller carrying frame and comprising vertical rack bars connecmd to the roller carrying frame, gears meshed with the rack bars and power operating shafts actuating the gears.

14. A machine for applying tie plates to ties comprising a base, a frame overlying the base, a pair of tie plate stacks mounted on the frame,.a tie plateapplying device on the frame adjacent each stack, means for delivering the tie plates singlyfrom each stack to its device, means cooperable with the base to facilitate the placing of the tie thereon, and means for properly positioning the tie on the base.

15. A machine for applying tie plates to ties comprising a tie plate stack, a tie plate 5 applying device means for delivering the tie plates from the stack to the tie plate applying device, means for proper y positioning the ties relative to the tie applying device, fluid pressure actuated mechanisms for driving the tie plate applying device, the delivery means and the positioning means, valves controlling said mechanisms and an interlock for said valves.

ROBERT AULDOM BRADLEY. 

